Youth Skier Development Program
The Youth Skier Development Program is a fun-based, affordable program, cultivating a love of cross country skiing in the next generation.
We offer a variety of programs for all skill levels, ages and interest from September to March, each year.
Skier Development Programs are an amazing way for youth to develop important lifelong skills, an love for the outdoors and a sense of community with other skiers. Come on out and join the team!
Location
Sessions take place at the Castlegar Nordic Ski Trails, located 32 km. west of Castlegar on Highway #3. Park in the parking lot near the Mud Lake trail head. Click here for a Location Map.
Registration
Fall Programs are now open for registration! Follow the link below to register for any of the programs:
Click here to register for any of our Youth Programs listed below
Note: To be registered in our winter Youth Programs, participants will need to also be registered members of Cross Country BC. This can be done by registering your child for a membership with our club.
We’ll give you a Discount Code to register and the only fee you will need to pay is a $21 Cross Country BC fee.
Please contact our program coordinator at [email protected] to receive the Discount Code. Children 6 and under are always free!
Member Registration can be done here
Fall Programs (Registration Closed):
Fall Dryland Training for Youth (ages 8-14)
This program is for young skiers of all levels who enjoy the camaraderie, sport and out-door opportunities of Nordic skiing and want to improve their ski technique for the winter. Through team-building games, cardio, coordination, speed and flexibility exercises, your kids will hit the snow ready to go this year!
This year the program will focus on roller skiing! At each session, all participants will have the opportunity to learn or practice their skate ski technique on roller skis! Once the trails begin to ice over, we’ll switch the program focus to local hikes, pole striding and The Cobra Climb!
If your kids want to improve their fitness level for the upcoming race season or they are simply looking for a way to have fun while they improve their skills with a team of other kids, they’re sure to have a blast at our Fall Dryland Training Program!
Duration: 1.5 hour sessions
Cost: $85
Classes: Saturday mornings from September 28th to November 30th, 2024 (10 sessions)
Location: Kinnaird Park, Castlegar, BC
(NEW!) Fall Weeknight Roller Skiing Adventures (ages 8-14)
This new program is for young skiers who are developing their skate ski technique or planning to participate in our Track Attack winter program.
Each Tuesday night session we’ll set out with the goal of allowing participants more supervised practice time on roller skis with weekly adventures on the the paved section of the Slocan Valley Rail Trail. Participants will spend 30-40 mins each session on a guided roller ski with 15-20 mins of warm-ups and stretches.
Participants should have at least one season of skate ski experience and have used roller skis before. Participants are required to bring their own skate ski boots and a helmet, but roller skis will be provided!
Duration: 1 hour sessions
Cost: $85
Classes: Tuesday evenings from September 10th to snowfall (10 sessions)
Location: Mount Sentinel School/ Ootischenia Volunteer Fire Hall
Winter Programs (Registration Now Open):
Jack Rabbits and Bunny Rabbits (Ages 4-9)
The Jack Rabbit program is the classic nation-wide youth skier development program. This fun and family oriented program focuses on teaching kids all of the fundamentals of Nordic skiing as well as showing them the adventure and enjoyment of the sport.
The program follows a progression of 5 classes, all with a focus on different age and skill levels. Using a graduated evaluation system, these classes will introduce your kids to the sport and bring them to full proficiency in all ski techniques over their journey. We cover everything from how to put on your skis and get dressed for the weather, to skate skiing and more advanced ski techniques for kids. With a strong emphasis on fun and games, your kids are sure to have a blast!
Bunny Rabbits: Ages 4-5
Jack Rabbits: Levels 1/2, Ages 6-7; Levels 3/4, Ages 8-9
Duration: 1.5 hour sessions
Cost: $98, plus occasional parent volunteer commitment
Classes: Saturdays at 1:30pm from January 11 to March 15th.
Location: Castlegar Nordic Ski Trails
Track Attack (Ages 8-14)
Want to be a part of the CNSC race team? The fun starts here!
Nordic Skiing can be a challenging sport, especially for kids and teens! But the fun really starts when they learn to master the glide, tear around corners, zip up and down the hills, breathe deeply in the woods, and above all, get to share this experience with friends and competitors of their own age.
This program will introduce kids to racing techniques and strategies, develop their skills and endurance and help build their confidence to participate in a number of regional and provincial race events with young skiers form all over BC. The program has a strong emphasis on team-building, technique development and finding fun in the sport. Come on out and join the team!
Note: Registered participants should have some experience with ski classes. Participation in competitions is recommended, but not required.
Duration: 2 hours on Saturdays and 1.5 hours on Tuesdays (optional)
Cost:
- Tuesdays and Saturdays -$235, plus competition entry fees
- Only Saturdays – $135 plus competition entry fees
Classes: Saturdays at 1:30pm and Tuesdays at 4:30pm (optional), December 2nd 2024 to March 8th 2025
Competitions: The team will have the opportunity to attend regional races including local Loppets and Kootenay Cup events and the BC Cup. Athletes may decide on which races they will attend.
Location: Castlegar Nordic Ski Trails
For program information email: